Pistons entertain Hornets at The Palace

(Sports Network) - The Detroit Pistons will take a two-game winning streak
into Monday night when they host the New Orleans Hornets at The Palace of
Auburn Hills.

The Pistons had a very good weekend, defeating the San Antonio Spurs by 10 at home on Friday night, then taking out the Milwaukee Bucks in Milwaukee the very next night.

Against the Bucks, Detroit was down 10 in the second half, but rallied and
reclaimed the lead when Charlie Villanueva buried a 3-pointer with just under
10 seconds.

Brandon Jennings of the Bucks missed a late 3-pointer and the Pistons left
with 105-100 victory.

"It feels great," Villanueva said. "I don't even know who passed me the ball,
but once it hit my hands I knew it was in. It was a big game, especially here
in Milwaukee, where I called it home once.

"Never really hit a game-winner. It's definitely up there. You'll have to go
back to the archives. As a Piston, definitely no. Especially playing against
my old team. Good place for it to happen."

Villanueva had 18 points and 13 boards in a balanced Pistons' attack. Newly-
acquired Jose Calderon led them with 23, while Rodney Stuckey (19), Greg
Monroe (14), Will Bynum (12) and Kyle Singler (11) also scored in double
figures.

Defense is the whole key for the Pistons. In their 20 wins, opponents average
90.4 ppg, while in their 32 losses, opponents score 101.2 ppg.

The Hornets had their two-game winning streak snapped on Sunday in Toronto,
102-89 to the Raptors. After wins at home against the Phoenix Suns and on the
road against the Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans went north of the border and were
scrappy.

The Hornets trailed by 11 after one quarter but the game wasn't decided until
late in the fourth when a Raptors' run left the margin in double digits.

Robin Lopez had 19 points for the Hornets, followed by 17 from Greivis
Vasquez, 15 from Ryan Anderson and 13 from Brian Roberts. Leading scorer Eric
Gordon was held to six. Vasquez was coming off a recent triple-double.

Despite shooting a respectable 49 percent from the field, head coach Monty
Williams wasn't pleased with the offensive philosophy on Sunday.

"We settled for too many jump shots tonight," he said. "Sometimes that
happens, we've made those shots. But tonight you had to recognize when they're
not going in."

Monday night will cap a three-game road trip and the Hornets will play their
last game before the All-Star break on Wednesday, at home, against the
Portland Trail Blazers.

The Pistons have won three of their last four against the Hornets and three in
a row at home.